The Nevins Fellowship is an award of $20,000 for teachers of dentistry between their third and fifth year and was established to improve the retention of junior full-time periodontal faculty and provide personal funding to lighten the burden of academic loan repayment. The award was created by donors in honor of Dr. Myron Nevins PERIO 67, a leader in the field of periodontology.

Dr. Ayilavarapu was chosen from two other finalists interviewed on September 30, 2012, by seven panelists at the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Annual Meeting.

As the selected recipient of the Nevins Fellowship, Dr. Ayilavarapu builds on an already distinguished record of achievements. His previous accomplishments include winning the research poster award for his work titled “Novel Inflammatory Pathways in Diabetes and Periodontitis-Role of iPLA2 in Superoxide Generation in Neutrophils” at the 2010 Boston Periodontal Residents Meeting and having his research published in the Journal of Immunology. Dr. Ayilavarapu became a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology in 2011.

In regard to receiving an award named for the esteemed GSDM alum, Dr. Myron Nevins, Dr. Ayilavarapu said, “It is an honor to get an award in his name.” Dr. Ayilavarapu also expresses his excitement for the national level of this particular recognition. He noted humbly that he felt lucky to be chosen and that the other finalists were both highly qualified.

Dr. Ayilavarapu says that the award will enable him to focus his attention on teaching, a pursuit that he has always been interested in. Currently, Dr. Ayilavarapu is teaching GSDM pre-doctoral students in periodontology. He is also actively submitting grant applications so that he may return to his research, which has most recently been focused on the relationship between diabetes and periodontitis and how both conditions affect systemic health.

For their support in his application for the Nevins Fellowship, Dr. Ayilavarapu credits Clinical Assistant Professor of General Dentistry and Director of Pre-doctoral Periodontology Dr. Neal Fleisher; Professor and Chair of General Dentistry and Director of the Center for Clinical Research Dr. Judith Jones; and mentor and research collaborator Dr. Thomas Van Dyke, who is a former professor in the GSDM Department of Periodontology & Oral Biology and current Vice President of Clinical and Translational Research at the Forsyth Institute.

Dr. Jones said in response to Dr. Ayilavarapu being chosen for the Nevins Fellowship, “Dr. Ayilavarapu is an outstanding example of a clinician, scientist, and teacher who relates extremely well with his students and his peers. He is most deserving of this recognition; we congratulate him for his efforts and wish him continued success.”

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter also extends his praise: “All of us at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine are proud to see such a gifted alumnus as Dr. Ayilavarapu receive national recognition for his achievements. It is a special pleasure to see Dr. Ayilavarapu recognized by an award that was itself created in honor of a Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine alum, Dr. Myron Nevins.”

Dean Hutter continues, “I commend Dr. Ayilavarapu for his contribution toward the vision of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine becoming the premier academic dental institution promoting excellence in dental education, research, oral health care, and community service to improve the overall health of the global population.”